Bios – Featured Voices

Full Biographies


Adriana Aristimuño
Adriana Aristimuño has a bachelor degree in Educational Sciences, and a PhD in Education (Catholic University in Leuven, Belgium). Her current fields of interest are educational policy, educational change, school improvement, and curriculum.  She has been a Full Teacher at the Catholic University in Uruguay, where she has taught graduate courses for teachers and educational leaders for more than 30 years and has held the position of Department Head and Dean. She has been a visiting professor in several universities in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru and Spain, and has been consultant for several UN agencies and multilateral organizations such as IADB, and the World Bank. She belongs to Uruguay’s official National Researchers System since its creation. In 2020 she took office at Administración Nacional de Educación Pública (ANEP) as Head of Educational Planning and later became Uruguay’s Executive Director of Educational Policy.   ↑ top


Jean Clinton
Dr Jean M Clinton BMus MD FRCP(C) Clinical Professor McMaster University Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences Dr. Jean Clinton is a Clinical Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences at McMaster, division of Child Psychiatry. She is on staff at McMaster Children’s Hospital with cross appointments in Pediatrics and Family Medicine, and an Associate in the Department of Child Psychiatry at Sick Children’s Hospital. She is a member on the MindUP Scientific Advisory Board as well as a MindUP for Families Advisor. She was a Fellow of the Child Trauma Academy, and is a Zero to Three Academy Fellow since 2013. She has been a consultant to children and youth mental health programs, child welfare, and primary care for over 30 years. Dr. Clinton was appointed as an education advisor to the Premier of Ontario and the Minister of Education 2014 – 2018. Dr. Clinton is renowned nationally and internationally as an advocate for children’s issues. Her special interest lies in brain development, and the crucial role relationships and connectedness play. Jean champions the development of a national, comprehensive child well-being strategy including a system of early learning and care for all young children and their families. She is equally committed to ensuring that children’s and youths’ needs and voices are heard and respected. Dr. Clinton has also authored her first book, Love Builds Brains which can be ordered online through Tall Pines Press, on Amazon and in book stores everywhere.   ↑ top


Matthew Doyle
Dr. Matthew Doyle is the Superintendent of the Vista Unified School District. Dr. Doyle also serves as the Executive Director of the International Center for Educational Research (iCERP) – a global space promoting intersectionality of thought and focus on the lifelong learner. He holds a doctorate in education leadership. Dr. Doyle is responsible for leading the design and implementation of the district strategic plan, the Blueprint for Educational Excellence and Innovation, in response to State of California LCAP funding provisions. Dr. Doyle’s primary focus is to create the conditions for transforming a traditional educational organization into a scalable, sustainable personal learning environment. The Personal Learning Challenge project won the Golden Bell Award from the California School Boards Association. Vista Unified recently won the prestigious Pivotal Practice Award 2022 from the California Department of Education for creating innovative learning environments for students.  Dr. Doyle has spent 31 years in education as a teacher, site administrator, district administrator and county administrator. Dr. Doyle has extensive experience supporting English language learners and students with special needs. His current area of strategic interest is the design and development of a learning ecosystem including prenatal to grade three systems, learning zones and building a career superhighway – an uninterrupted career development pathway for students to discover their strengths and interests and transform them into talent capital that aligns to the demands of the global marketplace. Dr. Doyle lives in Vista, California with his wife Alejandra and three sons Matthew, Alexander and John.   ↑ top


Max Drummy
Max Drummy has over 25 years of experience as a school and system leader across Australia, Asia and the USA. Driven by the mantra “You can’t achieve a higher level of craftsmanship without a higher level of craftsman” Max works strategically with schools, individuals and networks to build the collective capacity of teachers, leaders and learners. Max co-led the Australian New Pedagogies for Deep Learning (NPDL) Cluster between 2013 and 2016. After spending the following 5 years in Seattle working with schools and districts across the US, he returned to Australia in 2021 to support a rapidly expanding Asia-Pacific Deep Learning network. Max also continues to support many of our Global Deep Learning partners as they strive to create educational environments and practices that foster deep learning so that all learners can contribute to the common good, address global challenges and flourish in a complex world. Max’s post graduate certifications include a Master of Educational Leadership, several accreditations in coaching, and a broad and varied skill set built on experience both within and from outside the education sector. Max is highly committed to exploring and improving how education systems lead, educate and learn with, from and for future generations. In fleeting spare moments, Max loves time in” the shed” as a thinkerer, tinkerer and bike-whisperer.   ↑ top


Michael Fullan
Michael Fullan, OC is the former Dean of the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto. Recognized as a worldwide authority on educational reform, he advises policymakers and local leaders around the world in helping to achieve the moral purpose of all children learning. Fullan is a prolific, award-winning author whose best-selling books have been published in many languages. He bases his work on research and practice drawn from both the public and private sectors, finding an increasing convergence. From 2004-2013 Michael Fullan served as Special Adviser in Education to the Premier of Ontario. He received the Order of Canada in December 2012 and holds honorary doctorates from Duquesne University, Pennsylvania; University of Edinburgh, Scotland; Newman.   ↑ top


Mag Gardner
Mag Gardner is a co-author, speaker and global facilitator with New Pedagogies for Deep Learning. She coaches and supports across North and South America and Europe as they work to transform learning and grow collaborative professional systems. Formerly, Mag has served as a superintendent, secondary school principal and teacher in a range of settings within Ontario and beyond. As well, she was a pioneering force in Ontario’s Student Success movement. As an Education Officer within the Ministry of Education, she led the development of district plans, leadership strategy and school team processes. Mag earned her doctorate in Education from the University of Toronto.   ↑ top


Shawn Ginwright
Shawn Ginwright, PhD is one of the nation’s leading innovators, provocateurs, and thought leaders on African American youth, youth activism, and youth development. He is Professor of Education in the Africana Studies Department and a Senior Research Associate at San Francisco State University. His research examines the ways in which youth in urban communities navigate through the constraints of poverty and struggle to create equality and justice in their schools and communities. Dr. Ginwright is Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Flourish Agenda, Inc., a national nonprofit consulting firm, whose mission is to design strategies that unlock the power of healing and engage youth of color and adult allies in transforming their schools and communities. He is the author of “The Four Pivots: Reimagining Justice, Reimagining Ourselves,” “Hope and Healing in Urban Education: How Activists and Teachers are Reclaiming Matters of the Heart,” “Black Youth Rising, Activism and Radical Healing in Urban America,” “Black in School- Afrocentric Reform, Black Youth and the Promise of Hip-Hop Culture,” and co-editor of “Beyond Resistance!: Youth Resistance and Community Change: New Democratic Possibilities for Practice and Policy for America’s Youth.” Dr. Ginwright lives in Oakland, CA with his lovely wife and is currently an emptynester—both children are in college.   ↑ top


Zaretta Hammond
Zaretta Hammond, M.A.is a national consultant and author of Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain: Promoting Authentic Engagement and Rigor for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students(Corwin, 2015). She is a former high school and community college expository writing instructor. For  the past 20 years, she has supported schools and other institutions in deepening their understanding and application of culturally responsive practices. She currently runs the Culturally Responsive Education by Design Online PLC, a 6-month intensive, inquiry-based professional learning experience to build instructional capacity to use culturally responsive tools and practices effectively. Ms. Hammond is a strong literacy advocate who sits on the Board of Trustees for the Center for the Collaborative Classroom. She is also a member of the advisory board for the Consortium for Reading Education (CORE).   ↑ top


Dr. Alfonso Jiménez
Dr. Alfonso Jiménez has served as Superintendent of the Hacienda La Puente USD since July 2020. The District serves 16,172 TK-12 and 12,000 adult education learners. Dr. Jiménez is in his 27th year in education with 20 years in administration serving as assistant principal, principal, director, assistant superintendent, deputy superintendent, and now superintendent. Through his leadership, various programs continue to thrive such as C-STEM, New Pedagogies for Deep Learning (NPDL), visual & performing arts, robotics, speech and debate, and dual immersion. Under his leadership, two schools recently were awarded Schools to Watch at the state and national level. Several schools also earned honors for incorporating civic education. Recently, twenty-eight out of thirty-one schools and the district received the CA Pivotal Practice Awards for innovative teaching strategies implemented during the pandemic. Dr. Jiménez holds a B.S in Physiology from CSU Long Beach, M.S. in Administration from Pepperdine, and Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from the University of Southern California.   ↑ top


Hayin Kimner
Hayin Kimner is a nonresident fellow in the Global Economy and Development program at the Brookings Institution, the Managing Director for the CA Community Schools Learning Exchange, and a Senior Policy and Research Fellow for Policy Analysis for California Education. Kimner’s research interests focus on education policy, collective impact strategies, equitable and meaningful engagement, continuous improvement, and community schools implementation. Her work seeks to elevate the expertise and voices of students, caregivers and practitioners to inform and guide decision makers at local, state, and national levels. She previously worked as a Senior Program Director for The Opportunity Institute, and led the development of district-wide community school strategies in San Francisco and Emery Unified School Districts. She received her B.A. from Amherst College and a Ph.D. from Stanford University.   ↑ top


Jorga Marrum
Jorga Marrum is Manager: Strengthening Outcomes for the Association of Independent Schools of New South Wales [AISNSW]. She is the lead facilitator of Deep Learning for NSW independent schools with over 40 schools volunteering to join the network since its inception in 2019. Jorga is a passionate educator with expertise and passion for strategic leadership and design engaging learning collaboratively with teachers.   ↑ top


Michael Matsuda
Michael Matsuda is a nationally recognized 21st century educational leader known for innovation, entrepreneurship, and compassion. Under his leadership, the Anaheim Union High School District has built a new educational model incorporating “reverse engineered” career pathways in partnership with higher education, private, and non-profit sectors, which have extended and transformed educational opportunities for all students. Since becoming superintendent in 2014, Mr. Matsuda has earned several accolades, including: one of twelve national “Leaders to Learn From” Award from Education Week Magazine, the “Visionary Education Leadership Award” from Cal State University, Fullerton, the California Association for Bilingual Education (CABE) Administrator of the Year Award, and an honorary “Doctor of the University” from Chapman University. Additionally, Mr. Matsuda was named the California Council for the Social Studies Administrator of the Year for promoting democracy in public schools. AUHSD leads the state with 17 California Democracy Schools which promote student voice and civic engagement throughout the district. Mr. Matsuda was also appointed to the National Council for Community and Education Partnerships (NCCEP) Board of Directors to enhance the organization’s mission of ensuring underserved students have the opportunity, skills, and knowledge to pursue the education and training to achieve their career and life goals. NCCEP oversees the federal government’s largest secondary grant program, GEAR UP. As an innovator, Mr. Matsuda has developed the AIME (Anaheim Innovative Mentoring Experience) program to create mentorships for over 15,000 high school students and has created over 300 annual summer work-based paid internship experiences for students who also receive college credit through Fullerton College. He also conceptualized the AUHSD SERVATHON, an annual service event celebrating MLK Day with over 4,000 students, families, and adult mentors. Before assuming the role of superintendent in March 2014, Mr. Matsuda spent 22 years as an educator in the Anaheim Union High School District. He began teaching at Orangeview Junior High School, where he was twice selected as Teacher of the Year. He also taught honors English classes at Oxford Academy. He received his BA from UCLA, MPA from USC, his teaching credential from Chapman University, and administrative credential from CSUF.   ↑ top


Laura McBain
Laura McBain (she/her) (@laura_mcbain) is a designer, educator and serves as managing director of the Stanford d.school and the co-director of the K12 Lab. Her work focuses on how human-centered design can be used to provide equitable and innovative educational experiences that will help all students thrive in a changing world. In this role she leads design challenges in education, designs new learning experiences for educators and serves as an adjunct professor at Stanford University. She is the author of My Favorite Failure: How Setbacks Can Lead to Learning and Growth which provides insights and narratives into how you can create the conditions to take risks and experience failure together. Prior to the d.school, Laura worked for 15 years at High Tech High serving as the Director of External Relations, principal of two school sites and a founding teacher. She has taught middle and high school students in both charter comprehensive schools. Laura has a Bachelors from Miami University-Oxford, Ohio and a Masters from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.   ↑ top


Chris Morris
Chris Morris is an excitable learner. Fun and learning go hand in hand. As a teacher and Educational Consultant, he designs experiences that challenge learners to step out of their comfort zone and devise creative solutions to limiting beliefs and problems of practice. Chris is excited to be part of this powerful Global knowledge building network.   ↑ top


Joanne Quinn
Joanne leads the capacity building component of the global partnership including professional learning and digital resources. She consults internationally in the field of whole system change, capacity building, leadership and professional learning She has led the design of strategic whole system change projects at global, national and district levels in Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia, the Caribbean and United States. Joanne has provided leadership at all levels of the education system as; Superintendent; Principal; Implementation Advisor on education reform to the Ontario Ministry of Education; and Director of Continuing Education at the University of Toronto. Her extensive experience as a consultant, presenter, author and innovative leader combine with her passion for improving learning for all children and give her a unique perspective on influencing positive change.   ↑ top


Mark Sparvell
Mark Sparvell is a global award winning teacher and education leader with 30 years experience currently working for Microsoft Education and leading work focused on well-being through the development of social-emotional skills. Mark is an advisor for Goldie Hawn’s MindUp Foundation, Ambassador for the Emotional Intelligence Society Australia, Bett Global Education Council member and founder of the SELinEdu online community. Mark is interested in the role technology can play in supporting SEL through immersive experiences, social learning opportunities and the use of data and analytics to inform practice.   ↑ top


Derek Wenmoth
Derek is acknowledged as one of NZ education’s foremost future focused thinkers, He is regularly asked to consult with schools and government agencies regarding the future directions of educational policy and practice in New Zealand and internationally. Derek has been a teacher, principal, a teacher educator and education policy writer. In 2003 he co-founded CORE Education, a leading provider of educational research and services in NZ. He stepped aside from CORE in 2018 to establish FutureMakers, an organization committed to inspiring the next generation of leaders, thinkers and problem-solvers. Derek works with schools and education institutions across New Zealand and internationally to help them develop their capacity for a future focused approach to education, and is currently a senior adviser to the NZ Ministry of Education. In recognition of his work in education, Derek was designated one of 2008’s “Global Six” by the George Lucas Educational Foundation which recognizes individuals making a difference in education. Derek maintains a blog on matters relating to e-learning and other aspects of interest to educators that can be found at www.futuremakers.nz/blog.   ↑ top